Sen. Beth Bye of West Hartford helped found the caucus of more than 52 lawmakers focused on issues that impact intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals and their families.

This was their first year working on a bipartisan basis on issues impacting that community and Bye was instrumental in making sure those families’ needs were reflected in the state budget.

When she helped found the caucus she was co-chairwoman of the Higher Education Committee, but when former Sen. Toni Harp left to become mayor of New Haven in January Bye lobbied her leadership for the position and got it.

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Now, as co-chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, which is in charge of the spending side of the budget, Bye is in a position to help move forward the agenda of these families.